Rockwood School District: Profile Of A Rockwood Learner: Isaac Opoku, Rockwood Summit

Press release from the Rockwood School District:

May 10, 2021

​In Rockwood, we strive to do whatever it takes to ensure all students realize their potential. Our goal is to PDFcultivate Rockwood learners who think creatively and critically; engage thoughtfully and respectfully; develop strong character; collaborate with others; and explore our world. Over the final month of the 2020-2021 school year, we will be celebrating fifth-, eighth- and 12th-grade students from around Rockwood who embody these characteristics and reflect the hopes, dreams and aspirations we hold for every child in our school community. Today, we feature Rockwood Summit High senior Isaac Opoku.-----Rockwood traveling orchestra teacher John Mazar has worked with Isaac Opoku since Opoku was a sixth-grader at Rockwood South Middle. During that time, Mazar has gotten a front-row seat to Opoku's evolution a​s a person, a student and a strings player."He's one of the nicest, most thoughtful, sweetest kids I've ever taught," Mazar said. "Every day he comes into class with a smile and wants to do well. He's led our cello section for the past two years. His leadership qualities are off the charts. Kids listen to him and want to do well for him: almost like he's another teacher, which is really cool to see."Opoku has immersed himself in a variety of activities at Rockwood Summit. He ran cross country and track and, as a cellist, he was named to the All-Suburban Honors Orchestra and earned the highest rating – gold – as part of a cello duet at the state solo and ensemble festival.He has also been involved with student council and is the senior Renaissance director."Some of my favorite memories have been planning and decorating the assemblies and dances alongside the other members," Opoku said. "I was especially proud of the Nintendo-themed academic assembly we had two years ago and the virtual assembly we planned this year. Videotaping and decorating was a lot of work, but it was a ton of fun."Opoku plans to attend Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, to study biology and Spanish on a pre-med track. During his time at Rockwood Summit, he has especially enjoyed his biomedical science course with Sean Torgoley and Algebra 2 with Krista Krebsbach.He even served as an Algebra 1 cadet teacher for Krebsbach this year."For both (biomedical science and Algebra 2), I had a small class, great teachers, and it was always fun to walk into class," Opoku said. "I'm definitely going to miss my friends and being a part of the orchestra program. I've been playing music with some of them since fourth grade, so it's going to be weird to let go. But I am going to try to find ensembles in college."

​In Rockwood, we strive to do whatever it takes to ensure all students realize their potential. Our goal is to PDFcultivate Rockwood learners who think creatively and critically; engage thoughtfully and respectfully; develop strong character; collaborate with others; and explore our world. Over the final month of the 2020-2021 school year, we will be celebrating fifth-, eighth- and 12th-grade students from around Rockwood who embody these characteristics and reflect the hopes, dreams and aspirations we hold for every child in our school community. Today, we feature Rockwood Summit High senior Isaac Opoku.-----Rockwood traveling orchestra teacher John Mazar has worked with Isaac Opoku since Opoku was a sixth-grader at Rockwood South Middle. During that time, Mazar has gotten a front-row seat to Opoku's evolution a​s a person, a student and a strings player."He's one of the nicest, most thoughtful, sweetest kids I've ever taught," Mazar said. "Every day he comes into class with a smile and wants to do well. He's led our cello section for the past two years. His leadership qualities are off the charts. Kids listen to him and want to do well for him: almost like he's another teacher, which is really cool to see."Opoku has immersed himself in a variety of activities at Rockwood Summit. He ran cross country and track and, as a cellist, he was named to the All-Suburban Honors Orchestra and earned the highest rating – gold – as part of a cello duet at the state solo and ensemble festival.He has also been involved with student council and is the senior Renaissance director."Some of my favorite memories have been planning and decorating the assemblies and dances alongside the other members," Opoku said. "I was especially proud of the Nintendo-themed academic assembly we had two years ago and the virtual assembly we planned this year. Videotaping and decorating was a lot of work, but it was a ton of fun."Opoku plans to attend Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, to study biology and Spanish on a pre-med track. During his time at Rockwood Summit, he has especially enjoyed his biomedical science course with Sean Torgoley and Algebra 2 with Krista Krebsbach.He even served as an Algebra 1 cadet teacher for Krebsbach this year."For both (biomedical science and Algebra 2), I had a small class, great teachers, and it was always fun to walk into class," Opoku said. "I'm definitely going to miss my friends and being a part of the orchestra program. I've been playing music with some of them since fourth grade, so it's going to be weird to let go. But I am going to try to find ensembles in college."

This press release was produced by the Rockwood School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.